Skehan's memory-oriented and analysis-oriented learners
A different perspective on the issue of language learning styles is given by Skehan (1998: 251). He believes that successful language learning relies on both memory and analysis. Some learners tend to rely more on memory (for example, by memorizing chunks of language), whereas others prefer to rely more on analysis (for example, by learning and applying grammatical rules). According to Skehan, the optimal way to learn a language involves the application of both these approaches in equal measure. Learners who rely too much on only one approach tend to be slow learners. This means that language-learning activities should, ideally, foster both approaches.
An activity that might foster both Skehan's memory-based and analysis-based learning uses the concept of 'lexical phrases'.
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Lexical Phrases The tutor begins by discussing the concept of 'lexical phrases' in the target language, and asks the students if they are aware of any. He or she then gives out cards containing popular lexical phrases, such as 'I might have known', 'when I put two and two together…', 'isn't it just typical?', 'I couldn't believe it when…' and so on. Ideally, the students should be unfamiliar with the expressions. Each student receives three such cards and the tutor explains the meaning of the expressions. The students are given half a minute to memorize the expressions on their cards. The students are then divided into small groups (3-5 students) and each group is seated round a table. In these groups, the students must engage in a three-minute discussion on a very mundane topic (what they were doing at the weekend, the last trip they went on, etc). They have to find a way of inserting each of the expressions on their cards into the discussion. As they do so, they place the card in the middle of the table. All students must try to place their cards before the end of the discussion. The discussion is followed by a short de-briefing session, where the tutor goes over any language errors that he or she overheard. |
Figure 12.12 'Lexical phrases' activity
Lexical phrases are ideal subject matter for a memory-based approach to learning. The above activity forces students to employ their short-term memory, as they have to remember the expressions long enough to get them into the discussion. On the other hand, they must also use an analytical approach, as they need to get the discussion round to an appropriate subject to allow them to insert their phrases.
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